About The Isley Brothers

Ronald Isley (vocals): 1954-Present.
Ernie Isley (guitar): 1968-1984, 1991-Present.
Kelly Isley (vocals): 1954-1986.
Rudy Isley (singer-songwriter): 1954-1989.
Vernon Isley (singer): 1954-1955.
Marvin Isley (bass guitar): 1973-1984, 1991-1997.
Chris Jasper (keyboards): 1973-1984.

The Isley Brothers group was founded as a singing group in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1954 by four teenage siblings: O'Kelly Jr., Rudy, Ronnie and Vernon. Their father, O'Kelly had been a Gospel singer and envisioned his sons following the same path. He trained them from an early age to sing and perform. Like their father, the quartet originally focused on Gospel music, with Ronnie as the lead singer. Tragedy struck the group in 1955 when one brother, Vernon Isley, was killed after being struck by a car while riding his bicycle. He he was just 13 years old. After taking time off, the boys eventually regrouped and continued their career; they did however, switch their style to secular, non-religious music.

In 1959, the Isley family relocated to the New York-New Jersey area to focus on developing the group's career. That same year, they were discovered by a talent scout for RCA Records and offered a recording contract. Their second single on RCA, "Shout," became the trio's first pop hit after it was released in September 1959. After failing to follow up on the success of "Shout" with another hit, the group left RCA in 1962, signing with Wand Records. It was with Wand that the group had it's second pop hit, a remake of the song "Twist & Shout." Again, the trio left their label after failing to generate a follow-up hit, but this time, they founded their own label, T-Neck Records, in 1964.

In 1968, the group had it's first top 5 hit single, "It's Your Thing," which is also notable as the debut recording of bass guitarist Ernie Isley with the group. The million-selling song also resulted in the group's first Grammy award. In 1973, the group expanded musically and added bassist Marvin Isley and brother-in-law Chris Jasper, a keyboardist, to the group, in addition to Ernie the guitarist. The group's first album with all six members was 3+3, released under their own T-Neck label in August 1973. The album, like most of the group's releases in the '70s was a hit and spawned songs that would go on to become legendary, including "That Lady, Pt. 1 & 2" (aka "Who's That Lady") and a remake of the Seals & Crofts song "Summer Breeze."

In 1984, the last three members to join the group, Ernie and Marvin Isley and Chris Jasper, left The Isley Brothers to start their own group, Isley-Jasper-Isley. Two years later, original Isley Brother O'Kelly died of a heart attack. And in 1989, one of the two remaining members, Rudy, announced he was retiring from the group to become a minister. The group remained musically dormant for a time, with Ronald Isley and his wife, singer Angela Winbush, basically acting as caretakers of the group's name and legacy. In 1991, Ronald and siblings Ernie and Marvin reformed the group, which was then renamed "The Isley Brothers featuring Ronald Isley," a title the group has carried ever since. Marvin Isley left the group in 1997 due to complications related to diabetes, but Ronald and Ernie Isley still collectively record under the Isley Brothers name.

1999: Inducted into the Grammy Awards Hall of Fame.
1992: Inducted in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
1970: Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Duo or Group Grammy for the song "It's Your Thing."

2006: Baby Makin' Music
2003: Body Kiss
2001: Eternal
1996: Mission to Please
1989: Spend the Night
1987: Smooth Sailin'
1983: Between the Sheets
1982: The Real Deal
1981: Inside You
1980: Grand Slam
1980: Go All the Way
1979: Winner Takes All
1978: Showdown
1977: Go for Your Guns
1976: Harvest for the World
1975: The Heat Is On
1974: Live It Up
1973: 3 + 3
1972: Brother, Brother, Brother
1969: It's Our Thing
1962: Twist & Shout
1959: Shout!